what options are there to do the following: 1. receive request from client (including post data) 2. do some work, update the db, prepare output for client 3. send output and finish up with the client 4. do some more work that might take considerable time, updating the db some more it would be convenient and efficient if step 4 took place within the same process as steps 1-3. but output control seems not to be sufficient: ob_flush(); flush(); sends the output but leave the client waiting for more. is there a way to close the connection as though exit; were called but without quitting the script? alternatively the script could start another process, copy over whatever data is needed and disconnect from it. but that has its overheads on the server. are the other possibilities? tia tom -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php